2 – If you’re up to it, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking people who find Asian longhorned beetles to put them in a jar and report the finding to the DNR.

Asian longhorned beetle.

The Asian longhorned beetle is a highly destructive, invasive pest that can kill maple, birch, elm and other hardwood trees. Officials say reporting sightings or signs of the pest can help prevent widespread tree loss in Michigan. It hasn’t been found here yet.

Adult beetles have bullet-shaped bodies from 3/4 inch to 1-1/2 inches long. The beetle is shiny black with white spots and long, black-and-white-striped antennae. Its legs and feet may be bluish in color.

If you can capture the insect, look to see if it has a spot between the top of its wing covers – if so, it likely is a white spotted pine sawyer, which is often mistaken for an Asian longhorned beetle.

If it doesn’t have the spot, put the insect in a jar and freeze it.

Take photos, note the location and report it as soon as possible to the DNR: email to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at MDA-info@michigan.gov, call 800-292-3939 or go online to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network at misin.msu.edu.